Automatic stock-feeder.



s. MENDEL. AUTOMATIC ASTOCK FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1913.'

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co., WASHINGTON, n. Cy

SAMUEL MENDEL, 0F NEW YORK, N .i Y.

AUTOMATIC STOCK-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed March 12, 1913. Serial N o. 753,794.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MENDEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 322 Greenwood avenue, Brooklyn, New York city, New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Stock-Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stock feeding machines, and particularly to an automatically actuated feeding device which may be set to operate at any desired time.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved structure which will feed automatically a plurality of different articles at any desired time, the articles moving under the actuation of gravity when properly released.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding device in which water is fed or dispensed, the same being so formed as to automatically move back to its original position or out of the way when the water has been removed from the article containing the same.

In carrying out the object of the invention the device is constructed as an entirety or single entity so that it may be applied at any point in any stable or other place without any changes being made.

In the forming of the device a housing is provided in which a partition is formed and a removable bottom, the bottom being Adivided into sections. One section beneath the straw, for instance, is hinged, while the other section which supports the water pail is preferably rigidly connected with the pail so as to move downwardly therewith. In the compartment in which the water pail is arranged is also arranged a hopper for oats or other feed, together with a door or slide controlling the access to the hopper. Suitable guideways are provided for the pail of water and suitable counterweights are also provided for assisting in holding the pail of water in an elevated position, and for returning the pail after the water has been removed therefrom. In order that these may operate automatically a catch is provided which holds the bottom normally against movement, but which is designed to be released by the actuation of a suitable cam on a clock mechanism so that the machine may be set so as to operate at any time desired.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective View of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the water pail and associated parts, the pail being shown in a lowered position; Fig. 3 is a front view of the housing and feed chute arranged therein, together with the water pail and catch mechanism; Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary View of the catch and the interlocking of t-he parts of the floor; Fig. 5 is a detailed view similar to Fig. 4 except that the same shows a catch disconnected so that the bottom may drop down under the action of gravity; Fig. 6 is a view of a clock mechanism and a cam connected with the alarm arbor thereof; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view showing a weight and locking device; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the door or slide for the feed chute.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral 1 indicates a housing provided with a partition2 so as to divide housing 1 into compartments 3 and 4, compartment 3 being designed to contain hay or other feed, while compartment 4 is designed to contain water and loose feed, as for instance, corn, oats and the like which may be discharged through chute 5 at the proper time. The bottom 6 of compartment 3 is hinged at 7 so that when released the bottom will swing downwardly out of the way and allow the hay to drop.` It will be observed that the bottom 6 extends beyond partition 2 and overlaps part of the bottom 8 of compartment l so that bottom S is partially supported by bottom 6. In order to cause a complete support of bottom 8 the same is rigidly secured to the bucket or water pail 9, which pail is provided with counterweights 10 and 11. The weights 10 and 11 are connected with the pail 9 through suitable chains 12 and 13 which pass over pulleys 14 and 15 supported in any desired manner at the top of housing 1.

A continuous guide 16 weight 10, while a divided guide 17 is provided for weight 11. This is desirable as there is a lock or catch 18 arranged to project into the path of movement of weight 11 when t-he weight is raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the pail 9 is lowered. The catch 18 (Fig. 7) presses against the lower part of the weight so as to deiiect the same against the side -of guide 17, whereby the weight cannot move downwardly. Catch 18 is pivotally mounted at 19, and is is provided for designed to be moved out of contact with weight l1 by pivotally mounted arm 20 operated by a projection 2l on the pail 9.

Vhen the pail 9 is allowed to move downwardly Linder the action of gravity the weights 10 and Il of course will move upwardly, and during said movement will strike against cross bar and raise the same. Cross bar 22 is bent so as to extend through guiding members 28 and 24 (Fig. 8) and to be rigidly secured to a slide or door 25 which normally covers an aperture or discharge opening 26 in the side of the housing l. The aperture 26 opens into chute 5 so that when bar 22 is moved upwardly slide 25 will be moved upwardly so that the oats or other feed in hopper 27 may be moved under the action of gravity through aperture 26 and be discharged out chute 5. Then the bottom 8 is released pail 9 will be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 and after the water has been removed therefrom the weight 10 will automatically raise the pail 9 back to its original position, weight l0 being suiicient for overbalancing the pail when empty without the assistance of weight 11. lVeight 1l is not permitted to move until the stop or projection 21 strikes lever 2O and operates the same, which is substantially midway of the periphery of the pail. This permits the pail to relnain in its lowered position until entirely empty or substantially so as weight 11 does not act until the pail has been partially returned.

In operation when it is desired to use the device the various parts are arranged substantially as shown in Fig. l and the clock 28 is set so that the alarm mechanism 29 will operate at a desired time. When the time arrives for the alarm to operate the same will rotate a cam 30 which is secured to the shaft of the alarm arbor. The cam 30 in its rotation engages a pivotally mounted catch 3l which has a notch 32 (Figs. 5 and 6) arranged at its lower end designed to interlock with projection 33. The projection 33 is rigidly secured to bottom 6 so that when the catch is in the position shown in Fig. et the bottom is held against movement as well as bottom 8. lVhen the cam 22 is rotated the catch 31 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 or out of engagement with the projection 33, whereupon the bottoms 6 and 8 will move downwardly by gravity and release the hay in comparte ment 8 and release the pail 9 in compartment 4. As the pail 9 reaches its extreme lowered position the weights 10 and l1 will strike bar 22 and raise the same so as to open the aperture 26 allowing the feed to move from hopper 28. A. pair of springs 34 are connected with the guides 35 which guide the pail 9 and with bar 22 so as to cushion the blow of the weights striking the same. In this way as soon as clock 28 Voperates hay, oats and water will be supplied. As soon as the water has been consumed the Water bucket or pail is automatically returned so as to be out of the way.

I-Iaving thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. In a device of the character described, a housing, a partition dividing the housing into compartments, a hingedV bottom for one of said compartments for normally supporting a certain kind of feed, said bottom projecting beyond said partition, a bottom for said second compartment overlapping the first mentioned bottom, a catch associated with said first mentioned bottom for holding the same against movement, a cam for operating said catch for causing the proper engagement thereof, clock mechanism for actuating said cam, and means set in motion by the operation of said catch for discharging feed and water from Said second compartment.

2. In a device of the character described, a housing divided into compartments, a hinged bottom for one of said compartments formed with an extension overlapping the other compartment, a bottom for said second mentioned compartment resting partially on said first mentioned bottom, a catch associated with said first mentioned bottom for normally preventing any movement thereof, means for operating said catch, a water pail arranged on the bottom ofr said second mentioned compartment, means for counterbalancing said pail, a feed hopper arranged on said second mentioned compartment, and means actuated by the counterbalance of said pail for opening said hopper so that the matter therein will be discharged substantially simultaneously with the lowering of said pail.

3. In a device of the character described, a housing, a bottom arranged therein, a catch for supporting said bottom, time controlling means for releasing said catch, a pail for containing water arranged on said bottom, a pair of chains secured to said pail, pulleys arranged adjacent the top of said housing for accommodating said chains, a weight for each of said chains, said pail when full of wat-er overbalancing said weights when said catch is released so that the pail will be lowered, a lock arranged intermediate the travel of the pail for lock-V ing one of' said weights against a return movement, means arranged on the pail for disengaging said lock, and means operable by said weights for releasing feed arranged in said housing.

4. In a device of the character described, a housing, a bottom for said housing, a catch for supporting said bottom, means for opa Water pail arranged on said bottom de- Weights of said pail for opening said slide, signed to be lowered when said catch is reand a chute for guiding the feed from said leased, counterWeight-s connected with said hopper.

pail, said oounterweights being raised when SAMUEL MENDEL. 5 said pail is lowered, a feed hopper arranged Witnesses:

in said housing, a slide for closing said feed LIONEL J. JOSAPHARE,

hopper, means operable by the counter- JEROME C.` LEWIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

